Following the tragic mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, Vice President Kamala Harris called on authorities to act.
“Every time a tragedy like this happens, our hearts break and our broken hearts are nothing compared to the broken hearts of those families,” Harris added.
Harris challenged leaders to take action while addressing the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS).
“Enough is enough. As a nation, we have to have the courage to take action and understand the nexus between what makes for reasonable and sensible public policy to ensure something like this never happens again,” Harris stated.
Harris cited the recent mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, Laguna Woods, California, and Dallas as evidence of a renewed feeling of urgency to confront evil in the United States.
According to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a shooter identified as Salvador Ramos opened fire at Robb Elementary School on Tuesday, killing over a dozen children. Two police officers were shot and wounded, but Abbott said they were expected to survive.
Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin told Fox News that the gunman had locked himself inside the elementary school, which is located 80 miles west of San Antonio and serves pupils in second, third, and fourth grades.
To memorialize the victims of the Uvalde school massacre, President Biden ordered that all American flags at the White House and other governmental buildings be flown at half-staff on Tuesday.
Until Saturday at dusk, the order also applies to all military bases, naval stations, and boats. At 8:15 p.m., Biden will speak on the tragedy. ET from the White House’s Roosevelt Room.
